Advani’s decision in BJP’s interest: Murli Manohar Joshi

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) L.K. Advani’s decision to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and accept responsibility for the BJP’s electoral debacle was taken in the interest of the party, senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi said Sunday. Joshi, one of the top rung leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also said the party’s election campaign had “perhaps” failed to reach the grassroots level and attract common man.

“If Advaniji says anything he says it in the interest of party members. He is the most experienced leader in the party. This cannot be criticised if he has taken the responsibility for the loss,” Joshi told reporters outside his Raisina Road residence here.

Refusing to discuss what went wrong with the BJP’s campaign strategy, he said: “We are going to discuss in meetings with state level leaders and scrutinise where we went wrong.”

“Perhaps the party’s campaigning could not reach to the grassroots. Our efforts did not reach the common man,” said the man who had been in charge of preparing the party’s poll manifesto.

Asked if Varun Gandhi’s alleged communally charged speeches had impacted the party’s all round performance, Joshi said his name should not be dragged into the discussion.

“Don’t drag him (Varun) into this. He did not affect votes outside Uttar Pradesh,” said Joshi, who won the election from Varanasi.